Orlando Sanchez, who played for St. John’s last season and went undrafted because of his age (26), continues to impress with D-League Westchester and is on the Knicks’ radar as a project worth grooming.

Unless he signs elsewhere, the Knicks have plans for Sanchez to make next season’s team out of training camp as a versatile, athletic 6-foot-9 small forward. Team president Phil Jackson is going to need a handful of minimum-contract players to fill out the roster if he uses his more than $30 million worth of cap space on treasured pieces.

There’s a remote possibility the Knicks will give Sanchez a look in late March if roster spots open up, as Andrea Bargnani, Pablo Prigioni and Amar’e Stoudemire are no guarantees to stick.

Sanchez told The Post he wants to follow in Langston Galloway’s footsteps. Both Sanchez and Galloway were on the Knicks’ training camp roster, were cut and wound up in Westchester.

“Langston opened the door for everybody on my team,’’ Sanchez told The Post. “He’s showing now that the guys here can play too and make it in the NBA. I think he changed everything with the Knicks.”

“I’m here to see if they can call me up. I want to try to show them I can play in the league. My guy Langston did it. I’ve been getting better from the first day.’’

The Knicks look at Sanchez as a prospect, but money also is an issue regarding signing him for this season. That would mean his minimum contract would be $325,000 higher — from $525,000 to $845,000 for a second-year player.

“Orlando has a high skill level and surprising athleticism,’’ Houston told The Post. “He has been using this season as a learning experience to maintain the high level of energy on a consistent basis that’s required on the NBA level.”

Sanchez played in only one game during the Knicks’ preseason, for 49 seconds in Syracuse. He thought he would get more playing time, but Travis Wear, who seems to have hit the rookie wall, made the roster.

“At the end of the day, it was really good for me,’’ Sanchez said. “I’m glad I had the opportunity even if I didn’t play too much to be with an NBA team, just being able to practice and watch practice.’’

Galloway said he thinks Sanchez is ready for an NBA roster.

“Yeah, definitely,” Galloway said. “ He’s more versatile — able to play the 1, 2 and 3, able to bring the ball up and he’s a willing passer, too. It makes him a real versatile player in any offense.’’

According to a source, one Western Conference playoff team has interest in Sanchez, a free agent who can sign with any team.

In 22 minutes per game, Sanchez is averaging 9.0 points and 6.7 rebounds. At the D-League showcase in Santa Cruz, Calif., Sanchez scored a franchise-high 27 points with 12 rebounds.

Sanchez grew up dirt-poor in the Dominican Republic before coming to the U.S. at age 20. He attended Monroe College in Westchester for two years before getting his big shot in Queens. Perhaps soon, Manhattan.

Knicks rookie Cleanthony Early was sent to the D-League for Friday’s and Saturday’s games in Westchester against Sioux Falls. Early will return for the Knicks’ Super Bowl Sunday game against the Lakers at the Garden, as coach Derek Fisher has found a tough time getting Early minutes.

According to a source, Early hasn’t fully regained his conditioning after knee surgery sidelined him for more than a month. Early didn’t play in three of four games before playing 18 minutes against the Pacers on Thursday, mostly in garbage time.